Following it, so the biblical story goes, three Magi urged on by a nervous King Herod arrived at a stable in Bethlehem and discovered the news that many of us celebrate with bells, lights and too much sugar and alcohol every year at this time: The son of God had come to die for our sins.

Peace on earth and good will to men is fine, as far as it goes. But some astronomers and forward-thinking theologians wonder how the rest of the universe is supposed to get the message.

Click here to read more from this December 22, 2014 New York Times essay by Dennis Overbye.